Liquid Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry Characterized Hydrolysate Fractions Possess Anticancer Activity In Vitro

To find new plant-derived antitumor drugs, hydrolysate and fractions of poplar were analyzed by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay for their inhibitory effect against liver cancer HepG-2 cells. Strong cytotoxicity of hydrolysate was revealed at processing temperature of 180 °C or above. The hydrolysate formed at 180 °C was sequentially extracted using organic solvent to obtain five fractions, and only the diethyl ether-soluble fraction (F De) showed specific cytotoxicity. The eluted fraction of acetone/n-hexane (F 1) was further isolated by column chromatography separation from the F De fraction at a yield of 70%, and could severely decrease cell viability. LC-MS chromatography indicated that 5-hydroxymethyl furfural, ρ-hydroxybenzoic acid and syringaldehyde were the main compounds in the F 1 fraction. Furthermore, the results of flow cytometry, Western blotting, and polymerase chain reaction indicated that syringaldehyde could tightly control the growth and metabolism of HepG-2 cells. The findings could move forward the value-added applications of lignocellulosic hydrolysate on traditional medicines.